September Sewing Challenge
Fashion week is the industry's biggest stage. For September, you were guest designing for one of its boldest houses: Schiaparelli. The challenge: create a look that captures the house's signature (the surrealism, the sculptural gold, the drama) and make it unmistakably your own.
What defines the house:
- Surrealist motifs (faces, eyes, body parts)
- Sculptural gold hardware
- Trompe l'oeil illusions
- Bold, architectural silhouettes
- Theatrical, larger-than-life drama
More inspo: the Cosmos board for this challenge.
How to make it Schiaparelli
- Start with one surreal detail. An eye, a lip, a hand, or a keyhole placed somewhere unexpected is enough to signal the house. Let the rest of the garment stay simple.
- Make your own "gold hardware." Craft foam, air-dry clay, or worbla painted metallic gold turns into sculptural buttons, brooches, or collars. Seal with a clear coat so it lasts.
- Try trompe l'oeil. Print, paint, or appliqué the illusion of something (a corset, jewelry, a zipper) onto a plain base.
- Structure matters. Interfacing, boning, and stiff fabrics like taffeta or duck cloth give you those bold, architectural shapes. Muslin a tricky piece first.
- Use what you have. Scraps become fringe, feathers, or texture. Pick a limited palette (black, gold, shocking pink) so busy details still look intentional.
- Go bigger than feels reasonable. Schiaparelli is theatrical. If it feels like too much, you're probably close.
What I made
I used about 5 pounds of fabric scraps to make a fringe top. Watch it on TikTok.
Post your looks with #SchiaparelliSeptember so we can find each other!
